Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-30


iii without medical attendance. Where there
Is a doctor there is always danger of discoy-
cry. Then, ngain, there is the courier, faith
full TO my lord as long as my lord. pays him.
Even n the doctor SEES nothing Suspicious,
tho courier may discoyer something. The
poison, to do its work with tho necessary 50
crecy, must be repeatedly administered IN
graduated doses. One trilling miscalculatoa
or mistake may rouse suspicion. The tnsup
ance ofIica may hear Of II, and may refuse to
pay the money. As things are, tho baron
will not risk il, and will not allow his sister to
risk il in his place.
any lord himself Is the next character who
appears. lie has repeatedly rung for tho
courier, and tho bell has not been answered.
what does this insolence mennf
"Tho'countesi lspeaking with quiet dignity
for why should her infamous husband have
the satisfaction of knowing how deeply he
has wounded hero reminds my lord that the
courier has gone to the post. My lord nsks
suspiciously II she has looked ut the letter.
The countess informs him coldly that she hns
no curiosity about his letters. Referring to
the cold from which no Is suffering, sho in
quires IL Ito thinks of consulting medical
man. My lord answers roughly that ho Is
quite old enough to be capable of doctoring
himself
"As he makes this reply, the courier APP
pears, returning from the post. My lord
gives him orders to go out again and buy
some lemons He proposes to try hot lemon
AIDE as means of inducing perspiration in
bed. In that way he has formerly cured
colds, and in that way lie will cure the cold
/ from which he Is suffering now.
tThc courier obeys In silence Judging by
appearances, he goes very reluctantly OH this
second errand.
any lord turns TO the baron twho has thus
/ far taken no part in the Conversation and
! asks him. in a sneering tone, how much longer
/ he proposes TO prolong his stay In Venice.
Tho baron answers quietly, Let us speak
plainly to one another, my lord. II you wish
mo to leave your house you have only 10 say
tho word, and CO. Ny lord turns 10 his
wife, md asks II she can support tho calamity
OF her brothers absence-laying grossly in
sulting emphasis on the word brother Tho
countess preserves her impenetrable COM
posure; nothing in her betrays the deadly
hatred with which she regards the titled
ruiIian who has insulted her. You are
master in this house, my lord is all she says.
DO as you please
ANY lord looks at his wife: looks at the
baron-and suddenly alters his tone. Does
he perceive in tho composure of the countess
and her brother something lurking under the
surface that threatens himl This is at least
certain. that he makes clumsy apology for
the language that he has used lAbject
twretchD
,aMy lords excuses are interrupted by tho
Al hf,t
wnter.
"rhe countess observes for the first time
that the man looks i'll. His hands tremble as
he places the tray on the table. My lord Or
deis his courier to follow him, and makes the
lemonade in the bedroom. The countess re-
marks that tho courier seems hardly capable
OF obeying his orders. Hearing this tho man
admits that no Is i'll. He, too. is suffering
from u cold; he has been kept waiting in q
drnught at the shop where he bought the
lemons; he feels alternately hot and cold, and
he begs permission to lie down for little
while on his bed
sFeeling her humanity appealed to, tho
countess volunteers to make the lemonade
herself My lord takes the courier by the
arm, leads him aside and whispers thest
words to him; Watch her, and SEQ that SIT
puts nothing into the Lemonade; then bring i
to mo with your own hands, aud then go Il
bed, IL you like
aWithout word more to his wife or to thu
baron my lord leaves the room
"The countess makes the lemonade and tn
courier takes IL to his master.
"Returning on the way to his own room h
is so weak and feels, he says so giddy, thu
he is obliged to support himself by the back
of the chairs as he passes them. Tho baron
always considerate to persons Of low degree
offers his arm. Il am afraid, my poor fellow,
he says, that you are really i'll The-courie
makes this extraordinary answer; Its al
over with me, sir; have caught my death
''The countess is naturally startled. 'Yol
are not an old man. she says, trying TO rous
the courier's spirits. AT your age catching
cold doesn't surely mean catching you
deathr Tho courier fixes bis eyes despair
, ingly on the countess.
any lungs arc weak, my LADY, he says
Il have already had two attacks Of bron
chitis. The second time great physical
y Joined my own doctor in attendance on mt
He considered my recovery almost in tn
light of a miracle. stake caro- OF yourself.
he said. "If you have a third attack o
bronchitis, as certainly us two and two max
, four you will be dead man, / feel til
same inward shivering, my lady, that | fel
on those two former occasions-and tel
you again, l have caught my death 1
Venice'
Speaking some comforting words, tn
baron leads him to his room. Tho COUNTIES
is left alone on the stage.
"She seats herself. and looks toward th
I door by which the courier has been led ou
!, 'Ahl my poor fellow she says, ii you coul
only change constitutions with my lord wia
q happy result would follow for the baro
!, and for mel II you could only get cured Of
i trumpery cold with a little hot lemonade
and il he could only catch his death IN you
= placer
: "She suddenly pauses--considers for awhil
! and springs 10 her feet with cry OF tr
! umphans surprise: tho wonderful, the unpa
g alleled idea las crossed her mind like ilas
Of lightning. Make the two men chang
; names mud places, and the deed is dom
Where are the obstaclesi Remove my lord
u by fair means or foul-from his room an
;, keep him secretly prisoner IN the palace,
live or die as future necessity may deterlnin
l. Place the courier in tho vncant bed and ca
2 in the doctor TO see hm-ill, in my lord
y character, and-if he dies-dying under N
s lords name.p
y The manuscript dropped from Henry